READER SUBMITTED: Students Receive Scholarships

Annalisa Russell-Smith

The 2014 Robert T. Kenney Scholars, along with fashion show models Left to right: Taraea Ellis, Adria Amos, who is also one of this year's scholars, and Briana Nance. The models are all members of the SMART Girls program at the Boys and Girls Club of New Britain.

The 2014 Robert T. Kenney Scholars, along with fashion show models Left to right: Taraea Ellis, Adria Amos, who is also one of this year's scholars, and Briana Nance. The models are all members of the SMART Girls program at the Boys and Girls Club of New Britain. (Annalisa Russell-Smith)

Maria Falvo, American Savings FoundationNew Britain

The runway stage at the Aqua Turf lit up when Adria Amos, Briana Nance, and Taraea Ellis, all New Britain students, modeled outfits created for the American Savings Foundation's annual college scholarship reception. The featured speakers at the event were past scholars who are pursuing careers in the fashion industry. The event gave the foundation a glamorous venue to announce a total of $750,000 in scholarships for nearly 400 students from 64 Connecticut towns for the 2014-15 school year.

The American Savings Foundation has been helping students since 1996 to pursue their academic and career dreams with a Robert T. Kenney Scholarship. The scholarships are based primarily on financial need, and most of the students are the first in their families to go to college. This year's scholars are aspiring teachers, doctors, engineers, lawyers, accountants, and fashion designers.

"Fashion is fun," said Maria Falvo, chief operating officer of the foundation who emceed the event, "and it is also a major industry with many career opportunities for young people to pursue. Tonight we showed how two of our past scholars - along with a senior in college - are making it their careers."

DaShaun Hightower, a senior at Lasell College in Boston, showed an original outfit he designed exclusively for this event. Amy Ortiz, a senior assistant buyer for a major New York fashion brand, talked about how buyers help bring a collection to life in the stores. And Rachel DeCavage's look was a "trashion" outfit. Rachel is the lead designer for the annual Hartford Trashion Fashion show. DaShaun, Rachel and Amy are all past and current recipients of the Robert T. Kenney Scholarship.

The three young ladies modeling the looks on the runway all participate in the SMART Girls program at the Boys and Girls Club of New Britain where they were fitted for their dresses and practiced their walks with help from Hightower, himself a New Britain native.

The scholarship program was named in memory of Robert T. Kenney, whose original vision led to the creation of the American Savings Foundation. Kenney grew up in Waterbury, the son of immigrants who instilled in their children the values of education and hard work. He became a leader in the banking industry in Connecticut, and was chairman, president and CEO of New Britain-based American Savings Bank from 1991-2003. From his own experiences, Kenney understood the importance of making a college education affordable for the next generations of leaders.

The American Savings Foundation is a permanent charitable endowment that also awards grants to area nonprofits. Since its inception in 1995 the foundation has contributed over $40 million in total grants and scholarships in central Connecticut. A total of $8.5 million in scholarships has been awarded to 1,868 students over the program's 19 years history. Scholarships are awarded to students from the 64 Connecticut towns served by the foundation.